More than just lofty ideas
I had heard it said that one sign of intelligence is planning for the future, that is to say, looking beyond the immediate so as to make plans in how to achieve long term goals. Another sign of intelligence is delay of gratification, that is to say, the ability to hold off on what we want today, because perhaps there are more pressing matters at hand that ought to be taken care of first. This takes care of the all too often impulsiveness of human nature that acts on immediate wants, which are not in the best interest of the parties involved at the present moment. It seems as though I have always been a dreamer, always imagining a lofty ideal. There’s nothing wrong with that of course. After all, if lofty ideals were of no use at all, then God would not have given us the capacity for such things. Even if you do not believe in God, then I would say, there would be no evolutionary benefit for lofty unattainable ideals. Philosophers would not have wasted their time thinking up principles...